Rotary Park shoreline enhancement project begins at Pillings Pond

Emilie Cademartori, Director of Planning & Conservation is pleased to announce that GroundMasters Corporation has begun work at Rotary Park, at the shoreline of Pillings Pond on Summer Street.

Bryan Last, Lynnfield resident and owner of GroundMasters, is working with Cademartori to enhance and maintain the native shoreline plantings, remove invasive species, preserve the root systems that prevent shoreline erosion, and best expose and beautify the vistas of Pillings Pond. "GroundMasters is performing this work totally free of charge", notes Cademartori. "Bryan lives on Pillings Pond and gets to appreciate it everyday. By donating the labor of his entire crew over multiple days, all Lynnfield residents have the opportunity to enjoy it, as well."

In 2021, volunteers joined with DeRosa Environmental Consulting to install a shoreline planting area as a wetlands demonstration garden for Pillings Pond abutters. The purpose of the garden installation was to demonstrate to shoreline abutters how maintaining a “buffer” area of native vegetation at the water’s edge could trap and filter pesticide and herbicide as well as nutrient run-off into the Pond, prevent erosion by holding the soil with root systems, provide habitat for bird and other wildlife, and be beautiful in its construction.

On June 1, GroundMasters began the multi-stage renovation work with clearing of invasive species, selective pruning to better expose the existing native perennial flowers and shrubs, selective raising of established tree limbs to open up vistas of the Pond, and selective seeding for bare ground areas. "We are partnering with GroundMasters to show our residents how landscaping can be both beautiful and beneficial to water quality and wildlife habitat", says Cademartori.

GroundMasters will return for future phases of the project and routine Rotary Park grounds maintenance. Crews work under the talented supervision of GroundMaster’s ISA Certified Arborist Hollie Call. Call has worked for GroundMasters for 8 years, is a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional, and former Mass. Certified Horticulturist. She also holds a Pesticide License.